Philip Wagreich named honorary innovator of the year

2013-03-01 12:51

Philip Wagreich, a former professor of mathematics, statistics, and computer science and a professor of learning sciences, has been named UIC's 2012 Honorary Innovator of the Year.

Wagreich was a co-founder of LSRI's Teaching Integrated Mathematics and Science Project, which developed the Math Trailblazers elementary-level curriculum used in schools across the globe. It is one of UIC's top royalty-generating patents.

Wagreich died unexpectedly in January 2013.

He was nominated for the award because of his work with TIMS and the Trailblazers project. Wagreich's dedication and efforts, nominators said, changed math curriculum young grade school students all over the world.

UIC's Innovator of the Year Award honors an outstanding innovator or team of innovators at University of Illinois at Chicago, who through their efforts, have contributed to significantly advancing their invention towards commercialization.

It recognizes outstanding commitment either through participation in the licensing process or through entrepreneurial efforts in a startup company based on their invention.

His family accepted the award on his behalf in a ceremony held in February.